File Sharing Problems

How to Disable Email Notifications for Comments in Shared Word Files

Maira Mehtab Sep 28, 2026 870 views

Question details

The user wants to stop receiving email alerts whenever collaborators leave comments on shared Word documents.

Product: Microsoft Word / OneDrive
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Collaborating on a shared document where frequent comment alerts via email become disruptive.
Observed behavior: Email notifications are triggered for document comments, but these alerts are controlled by OneDrive or Microsoft 365 cloud settings rather than local Microsoft Word preferences.

Before you start

Before attempting to change these preferences, ensure you have the login credentials for the specific OneDrive or Microsoft 365 account hosting the shared document.

Solution 1Recommended

Adjust OneDrive Web Notification Settings

Since these comment alerts are managed by OneDrive rather than Word, you need to turn off notifications via the OneDrive web portal.

Microsoft Word does not have a local toggle for cloud-based email alerts. Whenever a document is shared via OneDrive or SharePoint, the cloud service handles the notification dispatch.

Log into OneDrive

Open your web browser and sign in to the OneDrive website using your Microsoft account.

Access settings

Click the gear icon (Settings) in the upper-right corner of the screen, then select 'Options' or 'OneDrive settings'.

Navigate to notifications

Click on 'Notifications' from the left-hand menu.

Disable email alerts

Locate the setting that says 'Email me when others make changes to my shared files' or similar, and toggle it off. Save your changes if prompted.

Delivery Note: Even after disabling these options, some critical system messages or daily digests may still be delivered.

Solution 2

Contact Your Tenant Administrator

If you are using a corporate or school account and cannot turn off notifications, your organization's IT policies might be overriding user preferences.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why can't I turn off comment notifications directly inside the Microsoft Word app?

When a document is hosted in the cloud, Microsoft shifts the notification responsibilities to the hosting service (OneDrive or SharePoint). Local Word applications do not manage cloud email dispatches.

Will disabling OneDrive notifications stop all email alerts?

Not necessarily. Microsoft may still send mandatory security alerts, missed activity emails, or daily digests depending on your tenant's organizational policies and Microsoft's default updates.

How do I submit feedback to Microsoft if the unwanted notifications continue?

You can submit feedback directly through the OneDrive website by clicking the '?' (Help) icon in the top right corner and selecting the 'Feedback' or 'Support' option to report the recurring issue.

Document & File Issues